California already has one of the very best small claims court systems in the
nation. Despite the veto of reform efforts by then-Governor Pete Wilson in 1997,
A new law signed Governor Schwarzenegger, on October 6, 2005, will give the
State’s residents even better access to the civil justice system.
Along with the legal reform group HALT, your Editor has long argued
(e.g., here and elsewhere) that reforming small claims courts — with
meaningful dollar limits and user-friendly improvements (like Plain
English forms, better hours, and both in-person and online advice) is
the single most effective way to give our justice system back to the
people (wresting it from lawyers who are jealous of their gatekeeper
perquisites and have stymied such reform).
“calMap2″ Thanks in large part to efforts by HALT, and hard-working California
“natural persons” will be able to seek up to $7500 in damages in small claims
courts, beginning Jan. 1, 2006, and they will find improved “advisory services”
and better-trained “temporary judges.” You can find a summary by legislative
counsel, along with the text of the Act, here, and an extensive explanation here.
Click here to find out how your State did in HALT’s 2004
Small Claims Report Card, as well as state by state small
claims rules.
A Suggestion for Law Student Projects: Do your share to 
improve access to justice by everyday Americans — start a
project to improve the small claims laws in your state; help
design easy-to-use and to understand materials for these
People’sCourts — online and hardcopy; and volunteer to
serve as advisors at small claims courts. Contact HALT
for ideas and assistance.
overcast morning–
ripe blackberries
out of reach
eviction notice —
a moth ricochets
in the lampshade
chill wind -
autumn leaves covering
autumn leaves
“califiaCover” Speaking of California, I recently finished an intriguing adventure
selling and much-honored mystery writier Laurie R. King). Set in the near
future, the story involves a world where “women warriors guard their peaceful,
self-sustaining California enclave, hunting, planting, harvesting, and keeping
watch over the men and boys essential to survival after most males perished
along with electric power and fossil-fuel-driven engines.”
If you can suspend reality sufficiently to imagine a world in which men are
highly valued (and not allowed to do anything rowdy or dangerous, as only
10% survive past the age of two), you’ll enjoy this book, which was inspired
by the legend of Califia, the warrior queen for whom the State is named. There
are also marauding bands from north of old San Francisco, huge and intensely
loyal dogs, abandoned babies, mothers afraid of broken hearts whenever they
give birth to a male child, citizens attempting to escape oppressive dictators,
and — of course — some great fight scenes with the women warriors.
leaf-peepers ooh and ah –
why didn’t I
bring my gloves?
[Oct. 14, 2005]
by 